Polished Chrysocolla and Malachite
Large and highly polished malachite and chrysocolla stone weighing almost 500 grams.
Malachite and chrysocolla in its purest form are relatively soft stones. Both are frequently associated with quartz, azurite and cuprite as well as other copper minerals.
When combined with quartz the hardness of chrysocolla can improve sometimes quite significantly. It's always a good idea to handle it very carefully.
References to a mineral called chrysocolla can be found in writings by the ancient Greek philosopher Theophrastus. It's believed the use of the name did not refer solely to the stone known today as chrysocolla. Spelt 'chrysokolla', it's believed to have applied to several copper minerals including malachite.
Theophrastus wrote it can found in large quantities in gold mines and even more in copper mines. He said chrysokolla occurs in 'kyanos' which in Greek means "blue copper carbonate". This scientific name for the mineral azurite confirms malachite was part of this group of minerals.
